In a boost to Nigeria’s travel-tech ecosystem, Esosa, an AI-powered travel arrangements company headquartered in Ikeja, Lagos, has been named among the 20 startups selected for the 2025 Lisk African Blockchain Incubation Hub.
Announcing the news on LinkedIn, the Esosa team expressed excitement about being part of the accelerator’s second cohort.
“We’re in! Super excited to be part of the Lisk African Blockchain Incubation Hub. Looking forward to all the amazing lessons and leveling up with this brilliant cohort,” it said.
Transforming Nigerian Tourism
Founded by Hassan Kolawole and Ebenezer Olabinjo, Esosa is a travel-tech startup designed to revolutionise how both local and foreign tourists experience Nigeria.
“The idea of Esosa came about during a conversation with my friend, who is now my partner. We shared our pain points about our experiences in Lagos — six years for me and twelve years for him we began listing out places we have never explore,” co-founder Ebenezer recounted in a Medium post in July 2024.
“A few weeks later, I visited Abuja and wanted to go hiking. I kept asking everyone around me, “Where’s the hiking area?” but no one could direct me or even share a link. This experience reminded me of our conversation, and that’s how Esosa started.”
Techparley Chat
In an interview with Techparley, esosa co-founder Hassan highlights that the company’s next milestone is scaling beyond its current clientele in Nigeria.
He said, “Our goal is to grow esosa by making our service available to more users than we currently serve, especially by expanding into more African countries.
“We see the Lisk Incubation as a valuable vehicle towards empowering us at esosa to achieve this goal. We express huge appreciation to CV Labs and Lisk for selecting esosa as one of the members of their 2025 cohorts,” he added.
Inside Esosa’s AI-Driven Travel Platform
The platform uses artificial intelligence to deliver personalised travel itineraries, combining local insight, smart recommendations, and a seamless booking experience for everything from accommodation to leisure activities.
Esosa offers a wide variety of accommodation options tailored to travellers’ budgets and preferences, ranging from hotels and short-lets to beach houses and curated getaways, according to its official website.
Lisk and CV Labs Deepen Commitment to African Innovation
The Lisk African Blockchain Incubation Hub is a multi-week accelerator aimed at helping African startups build scalable, decentralised solutions.
“We’re excited to welcome 20 new innovative projects building the future of Web3 & Lisk in Africa. From DeFi & building Africa’s finance layer, to empowering the creative economy, this batch really has it all,” it announced on LinkedIn.
This year’s hub brings together 20 emerging startups from across the continent. Over the next eight weeks, participants will be guided through Block 1, a series of workshops covering essential startup topics including tokenomics, market research, pitch development, and growth strategy.
Besides Esosa, the 2025 cohort features a mix of startups including, Azza, Rafiki, Swahilies, Lucred, Prosperi, Therahbot, and Myaza, amongst others.
What This Means for Esosa and Nigerian Tourism
Nigeria’s tourism sector is considered a goldmine with significant potential for growth. The industry in Nigeria is expected to experience a significant rise in revenue in the coming years.
According to a Statista report, the market is expected to grow annually at a rate of 10.60%, resulting in a projected market volume of $5.64 billion by 2029.
As global and regional interest in African travel surges, experts believe there is a pressing demand for platforms that streamline planning while showcasing the continent’s diverse cultural offerings.
Esosa’s AI-powered model addresses a clear market gap, offering curated itineraries and accommodation options that cater to both budget-conscious and premium travellers.
Industry analysts view this kind of innovation as essential to unlocking Nigeria’s underdeveloped but high-potential tourism economy.
Talking Points
Esosa’s inclusion in the Lisk African Blockchain Incubation Hub signals a promising shift in how technology is being applied to reimagine Nigeria’s travel and tourism landscape.
What stands out is Esosa’s focus on using AI to create personalised itineraries and connect tourists to diverse accommodation options across Nigeria. It’s a timely solution, especially as local tourism grows in cultural and economic importance.
At Techparley, we’re closely watching how platforms like Esosa are bridging technology with real-life mobility, opening new ways for people, especially diaspora visitors and adventure-seeking locals, to explore Nigeria with more ease, structure, and confidence.
Its participation in a blockchain incubator also raises interesting possibilities. From secure bookings to digital traveller identities and loyalty systems, the integration of blockchain could address longstanding issues of trust, transparency, and verification in Nigerian tourism.
Still, like many startups tackling fragmented sectors, Esosa’s impact will rely on more than technology. Partnerships with state tourism boards, hospitality associations, and transport networks will be key to scaling and grounding the product in Nigeria’s on-the-ground travel realities.
With the right execution, Esosa has the potential to become more than a travel planner, it could serve as a digital infrastructure layer for exploring Nigeria.
